Hudhur gave a discourse on Laylatul Qadr, (the Night of Destiny) and the last te

n days of Ramadan. Hudhur began by recitation of Surah Al Qadr. The translation

reads:
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful
Surely, We sent it down on the Night of Destiny.
And what should make thee know what the Night of Destiny is?
The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months.
Therein descend angels and the Spirit with their Lord’s decree concerning everythi
ng.
Peace – so will it be even at the rising of the dawn. (97:1-6)
Hudhur said in a few days we will enter the last ten days of Ramadan, during whi
ch, according to traditions, Laylatul Qadr falls. This is a night of particular
spirituality in which God looks down on His servants in a special way. Muslims i
n general give a lot of significance to the last ten days of Ramadan. Even those
who are not so attentive in the first two sets of ten days of the month try and
improve their spiritual condition in the last ten days. People in our Community
are also inclined to enhance their worship of God in the last ten days. Ahadith
prove that Laylatul Qadr falls in the last ten days of Ramadan and it is a nigh
t of tremendous significance. However, can it make one a true believer and serva
nt of God if effort is only made in the last ten days of Ramadan and the rest of
the year is spent in disregard? God states that He created men and Jinn so that
they may worship Him. Concentration of worship in search of a special spiritual
night in the last ten days of Ramadan to make up for an entire life time’s worshi
p takes one away from this basic objective of creation.
If God so wills, He manifests His special grace for the consolation of His serva
nt, creating a condition, by virtue of which this special night is granted. His
servant experiences a wondrous spiritual state. That is, fulfilling the pledge o
f worship of God, in which man notices spiritual development and enhancement eve
ry moment, indeed should notice it. When man fasts while reading and reflecting
on the Qur’an and primarily fasting in order to enhance his devotion to God, indee
d God sees that man is putting the commandments in practice to the best of his a
bility, and is supplicating and calling God in view of: ‘I am near. I answer the p
rayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me.’ (2:187), not only does God listen to
prayers, rather He grants Laylatul Qadr in accordance to His promise during whi
ch He comes down to earth, near His servants. When man fulfils his pledge, God r
aises man’s spiritual state. If there is ever any deficiency, it is on our part, i
n our effort and our practices. God provides this blessed month every year with
its last ten days and Laylatul Qadr, which is the highest point of attaining nea
rness to God. How much effort should then be made on man’s part! The spiritual exp
erience of this special night brings about amazing transformation in a person an
d so it should, otherwise the due of the night is not fulfilled. If one believes
one has experienced Laylatul Qadr, the worship of which night is better than th
e worship of 1000 months, and thinks he does not need any more worship, he is mi
sled. In fact Lalilatul Qadr makes one a servant of God in an enhanced manner an
d in such a situation Divine beneficence flows. God states that when man endeavo
urs to gain His nearness, honours and nurtures his pledge, He listens to prayers
and continues to bestow.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that Laylatul Qadr is a time of pur
ification for man so that he may become compliant to all God’s commandments. Hudhu
r said the month of Ramadan comes so that we may bring about such a transformati
on, search for Laylatul Qadr in the last ten days. The Holy Prophet (peace and b
lessings of Allah be on him) made special effort during the last ten days of Ram
adan and strove hard in worship of God. He would stay up at night and wake his f
amily up. Not only did he increase his own worship in these days he could not to
lerate that his family should be deprived of the immense blessings of God’s grace
in the last ten days. Even the duration of his worship during ordinary times as
well as its beauty cannot be assessed, let alone the state of his worship in the
last ten days; it is beyond our imagination. Thus was the model he established
for us. May God enable us to create such an environment in our homes to facilita
te our forgiveness.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that one who fast
s with fervour of belief and to gain pleasure of God, has his/her previous sins
forgiven and one who wakes up for Laylatul Qadr with a passion of belief will ha
ve his/her previous sins forgiven. Hudhur explained fasting in Ramadan is condit
ional that it is done to strengthen belief and gain God’s pleasure, otherwise God
has no interest in a person staying hungry. Observation of Laylatul Qadr is also
conditional that it is done to gain sincere pleasure of God and not for the ful
filment of any worldly reasons. Hudhur said God’s pleasure should be foremost in o
ur prayers.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that Laylatul Qad
r should be searched in the last ten days. If one is weak and vulnerable he/she
should never be overcome in the last seven nights. Hudhur explained that if for
some reason one cannot avail of the blessing of Ramadan, every excuse should be
discarded in the last ten days. In another tradition the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be on him) said, ‘it [Laylatul Qadr] has been shown to some of
you in the first seven nights of the last ten days and to others in the last se
ven nights.’ Hudhur said this clarifies the earlier Hadith that there is no specif
ically appointed night, rather it can fall on any night of the last ten days. So
me ahadith mention looking for it in the odd nights of the last ten days.
Hudhur explained that whoever experiences Laylatul Qadr does so by virtue of a v
ery special blessing of God. It is most important to value this experience and t
hat can be by continually developing in one’s spirituality. The worship of this on
e night is better than that of a 1000 months. Hudhur said 83 years make up 1000
months. Thus if one experiences it, one’s lifetime’s prayers - that are good for a b
eliever - are accepted. All prayers made are not good in God’s sight; He thus acce
pts what He deems good. This night also gives a believer a higher spiritual stat
us and the descent of angels brings a revolutionary change in a believer’s connect
ion with God. And one night’s worship becomes equal to a lifetime’s worship. This is
because one attains the objective of one’s creation; for once having attained it,
a believer continually strives to develop in this.
Hudhur said this night has extensive significance as explained by the Promised M
essiah (on whom be peace). One significance of the Quranic verse ‘Surely, We sent
it down on the Night of Destiny’ is the revelation of the Holy Qur’an. The complete
Shariah that was revealed in the month of Ramadan, as the Qur’an also declares: ‘The
month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was sent down …’ (2:186). Not only did i
ts revelation begin in Ramadan, but angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) would repea
t its recitation each Ramadan with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Alla
h be on him). It also signifies that it was a need of the time that a perfect gu
idance is revealed, as the Qur’an states, it was a time when: ‘Corruption has appear
ed on land and sea…’ (30:42). The disorder that engulfed the world at the time was o
f incomparable scale and it was required that a perfect Book be revealed. As the
Qur’an states:
‘The Praiseworthy, the Lord of Honour,
By this perspicuous Book.
Truly, We revealed it in a blessed Night.
Truly, We have ever been warning against evil
In it all wise things are decided,
By Our own command. Verily, We have ever been sending Messengers,
As a mercy from thy Lord. Verily, He is the All-Hearing, the All-knowing,’
(44:2-7).
Hudhur said thus this clear and open Book of guidance was revealed in this bless
ed time and night to the perfect man who was restless for mankind to worship the
One God and consider Him All Powerful, rather than make a humble mortal son of
God and make his death a source of salvation. It was in acceptance of the prayer
s of the perfect man (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that this perfect
Shariah was revealed which not only became a source of enlightenment in the dark
era 1400 years ago, rather, it will continue to do so till the Day of Judgement
, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) will remain the S
eal of all the Prophets and the last law-bearing Prophet. And each time, distrau
ght by the state of the world, God’s servants will supplicate to Him and implore H
im, He will console them by fulfilling: ‘…Verily, He is the All-Hearing, the All-kno
wing,’.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who was the true and ardent devotee of t
he Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) and was sent in his complete subordin
ation said that an exquisite point found in Surah Al Qadr is that when a reforme
r descends from heavens, angels descend with him and attract eager people to the
truth. Thus, at a time of spiritual darkness when people are inclined towards r
eligion, it is a sign that a reformer is about to come down from the heavens. At
this time two types of actions take place. One that grants purification of the
soul to people and as a result hones their wisdom. The second action although sh
arpens wisdom but the soul does not reach the truth, rather it becomes an eviden
ce of: ‘In their hearts was a disease, and Allah has increased their disease to th
em…’ (2:11) just as it happened in the times of all Prophets of God. When angels des
cend with Prophets of God each soul is stirred. Those who have truthful nature a
re drawn to the truth but others who were inclined to satanic ways although are
stirred and also drawn towards religious matters but they do not turn to the tru
th. The effect on the good-natured is good and bad on the bad-natured. Each Prop
het’s era has a Laylatul Qadr when the Book that has been given to him is revealed
. The greatest Laylatul Qadr was that of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings o
f Allah be on him) and the extent of his Laylatul Qadr reaches up to the Day of
Judgement. At a time when a deputy of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of A
llah be on him) is about to come, hearts are stirred again. The Laylatul Qadr ap
pointed for the time of the descent of this deputy is in fact a branch or a shad
ow of the Laylatul Qadr of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on
him). During this time, which will last till the Day of Judgement, and regarding
which the Qur’an states: ‘In it all wise things are decided’ (44:5) spiritual knowled
ge will be spread all over the world. It is the way of God that His word is reve
aled during Laylatul Qadr just as His Prophet comes at this time. This is also w
hen His angels descend and people are drawn to piety. The angels start from the
dark night of ignorance till the break of dawn attracting eager people to the tr
uth.
Remarking on the beautiful writing of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Hu
dhur said if the world, especially the Muslims, understood his message, rather t
han oppose it, they would become his helpers. Hudhur said the reasoning given by
the Promised Messiah is very strong and those who wish for peace and are lookin
g for a reformer and are awaiting the Messiah should think and reflect as the Pr
omised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that if at a time of spiritual darkness p
eople are inclined towards religion, it is a sign that a reformer is about to co
me down from the heavens. At the time of his advent people were desperately wait
ing for someone but when he made his claim, a section of the society opposed him
while some accepted him and thus accomplished their worldly life and the Hereaf
ter. Hudhur said time and again the Muslims announce that Khilafat is needed to
take care of the Islamic world. How can there be Khilafat, unless the Messiah co
mes? In the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) th
e pious-natured recognised him but people like Abu Jahl who considered himself v
ery wise was destroyed. In the time of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) w
e see the example of Hadhrat Maulana Nur-ud-din and Sahibzada Abdul Lateef shahe
ed (may Allah be pleased with them both) who in spite of hailing from far off pl
aces came to him and accepted him. Whereas Maulwi Muhammad Hussain Batalwi was c
lose by but remained deprived. Those who do not have the capacity to accept piet
y are arrogant and self-centred and their wisdom also becomes negative and becau
se of their negativity their spiritual condition deteriorates.
Hudhur said the condition of those who reject the Promised Messiah (on whom be p
eace) in the current times is the same. In their assumption they make pious stat
ements but they have no effect because they are the detractors of one who has be
en sent by God.
Hudhur said Tahir Nadeem sahib has been chronicling about the Arab Ahmadis in Al
Fazl. Writing about the events leading up to the acceptance of Tahir Hani sahib
, a life devotee who is working very hard, he relates that initially he tried ev
ery scheme to reject the message of Ahmadiyyat. He then read some books which to
ok him to a religious scholar, who in his opinion had the capability to refute t
he message. However all he did was scoff at the books. Hani sahib arranged a deb
ate of the scholar with Mustapha Thabit sahib in which he did not measure up. Ev
entually he left the scholar and God guided him to Ahmadiyyat. Hudhur said in sp
ite of possessing religious knowledge those who reject the Promised Messiah (on
whom be peace) run out of reasoning. Today too, those who claim to know religion
follow satanic practices. As the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has explai
ned the period of the Laylatul Qadr granted to the Holy Prophet (peace and bless
ings of Allah be on him) extends till the Day of Judgement and it is through it
that pious-natured are coming to the message of truth. However, the wretched are
losing the way. Hudhur said this era of Laylatul Qadr has been re-established o
n a shadowy basis because of his deputy, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace)
. In the current age we can attain Laylatul Qadr by valuing and recognising this
Laylatul Qadr.
There are various states of people: follow religion properly, avail of Divine be
neficence by virtue of pious nature or presume oneself to be the caretaker of re
ligion and create oppression and brutality in the name of religion, similarly us
e of certain inventions to trample human morals and values, while other [inventi
ons] are beneficial to the believers and are becoming a source to spread the wor
d of God. All these positive and negative aspects are a proof of the advent of o
ne sent by God and Laylatul Qadr. It is worth noting here that God states that t
he descent of angels continues till ‘the rising of the dawn’. The angels have been d
escending from the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on
him) when Islam was triumphant. That was the ‘rising of the dawn’ which cannot and w
ill not return. This is when religion was perfected. However, as the Promised Me
ssiah (on whom be peace) said this condition continues to manifest in the time o
f the ‘deputy’ in a shadow-like basis. This light remained for thirty years during t
he era of Khilafat e Rashida. Gradually spiritual darkness spread and was follow
ed by complete darkness. Today, again it has re-emerged with the advent of the P
romised Messiah in a shadow-like basis. This is the age following the ‘rising of t
he dawn’ which, in a way came to an end at the passing away of the Promised Messia
h (on whom be peace).
In order to seek beneficence from this new day that has dawned, in order to prot
ect the triumphs that are destined for Ahmadiyyat Islam from worldly flamboyance
and to continue to raise the levels of spirituality, God reminds us of Laylatul
Qadr each year in Ramadan.
In one way the era of the Holy Prophet’s Laylatul Qadr finished at his passing awa
y with and the revelation of the Holy Qur’an at ‘the rising of the dawn’, but in anoth
er way it will continue with the message for the Ummah to pay the dues of the Qu
r’an and Ramadan and reap the benefits of this very special night. By creating thi
s recurrent spiritual ambiance, God has bestowed a huge favour. If, in appreciat
ion of this, we discharge of our obligations, we will continue to avail of the b
eneficence issued by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
May God always confer His blessings on us. Our detractors, in their presumption,
harass us and wish to see us in darkness, wish our destruction and in their pre
sumption hope to devastate us, but Divine communities are not wasted nor can the
y be destroyed. May the harassment that has been ongoing in Pakistan bring about
an arrangement of Laylatul Qadr and may we see that manifestation of ‘the rising
of the dawn’ which manifests in the form of enduring peace and triumph.
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